Chapter 82: Lei Hou
<Previous Chapter<Table of Contents>Next Chapter>
The group headed downhill.
This young man seemed to be unfamiliar with humility, confident yet not arrogant, always displaying a composed demeanor. Nevertheless, he possessed the ability to convince others. At least, up to this point, he had proven his words through actions.
All six flags were securely held by Jiang Jiao, and after walking for some time, they were already far from the mountaintop, nearing the mountainside. He Yan stopped and suggested, “Let’s rest here for a while.”
Everyone sat down where they were, while He Yan climbed up a tree and looked around. Wang Ba asked, “What are you doing?”
“Stepping on the plate,” He Yan replied.
“Even though you’re already so skilled at robbing, you still want to step on plates?” Wang Ba chuckled, “Are you deliberately acting?”
He Yan observed the surroundings and then climbed down the tree, sitting on a rock. She explained, “This should be our last stop. Since we’ve used a clever strategy, we need to succeed with a single strike. Otherwise, six flags might not guarantee us the top position.”
“Are they really going to pass through here?” Jiang Jiao turned to look behind them, the dense forest obscured everything, and no figures could be seen. “With so many paths on the mountain, and the mountain itself being so vast, what if they choose a different route?”
“White Moon Mountain only has main paths and side paths to choose from,” He Yan smiled, “People carrying flags will naturally be cautious. If they take the main path, they’ll attract attention and risk being robbed by other new recruits. So, they won’t likely choose the main path. Among the side paths, this one is the closest route to the guard post, and it’s also the easiest one to find. Keep in mind that not everyone can pass through unnoticed. Therefore, they are very likely to take this route.”
Huang Xiong seemed to enjoy listening to He Yan’s explanations and asked, “Is this what you mentioned, that military strategy?”
“This one is called ‘Assessing the Situation,'” He Yan picked up a stick and drew on the ground, explaining, “It doesn’t mean selecting a position and waiting for the enemy, but rather using simplicity to control complexity, using the unchanging to respond to change, using small changes to respond to large changes, and using stillness to respond to movement, using small movements to respond to large movements.”
Wang Ba asked, “So we won’t move at all? Isn’t that what you said? Our tactics have already been exposed, and others might not fall for it.”
“You’re right,” He Yan nodded, “However, if the opponent has already seized many flags and gained confidence from consecutive victories, they might not necessarily lose if they encounter us. Therefore, we need to rest and recuperate before descending the mountain. And while we’re at it, we’ll find a good place to set up an ambush. But I think, in the end, it will come down to the two most formidable individuals from each side competing for the flags.”
“But that’s only natural. In the final stages of capturing flags, between the most outstanding individuals, there will always be a winner.”
The others didn’t quite follow, but Wang Ba gave He Yan a sideways glance and sarcastically said, “How did you become the most outstanding individual?”
“I gave myself that title,” He Yan answered earnestly.
Wang Ba: “…”
“Anyway, for now, everyone should rest here and eat and drink. Afterward, we’ll follow the ambush plan we discussed earlier. I’ve scouted this area, and the terrain ahead is treacherous, with a narrow path that is easy to defend and difficult to attack. It’s advantageous for us. Once we’ve successfully captured a flag, we shouldn’t linger in the battle. Follow my lead and leave quickly. We’ll use the descent down the mountain as the boundary. Once we’ve left White Moon Mountain, no one will be able to snatch the flags from us.”
“Understood!” Huang Xiong drank down more than half a jug of water in one go. “I can’t wait any longer!”
“Give me the flags,” He Yan said.
Jiang Jiao handed over the flags, which He Yan stowed away. She then suggested, “I believe that the final appearance of the other new recruits will also include the flag in the hands of their leader. At that time, I will most likely engage in a fierce battle with their leader. You guys just need to keep the others occupied and prevent them from getting close.”
“Can you really handle it alone?” Wang Ba asked, “There are six flags, so why not split up a bit? That way, they won’t all be taken from us.”
“You’re underestimating your Boss too much,” He Yan jumped lightly and landed on a branch, laughing, “At least within the Liangzhou Garrison, no one can snatch my belongings.”
…
Wang Xiaohan was leading their group as they headed downhill.
His clothes were torn to the point where they barely covered his upper body, but luckily, his pants were still intact. The blade in his hand had a nick from a strike, his face bore a punch, and his eyes were surrounded by dark circles. His companions behind him were not faring any better, all of them with bruised and battered faces, their clothing tattered. To anyone unaware, they might have seemed like refugees from outside the city.
Wang Xiaohan felt a sense of despair.
When the recruits of Liangzhou Garrison first engaged in the flag capturing, they were all full of confidence and fervor. Little did they know that once they ascended the mountain, they would realize it was nothing like they had imagined.
Searching for hidden flags on the rugged mountain paths, being wary of snakes, insects, and wild beasts, not to mention traps and snares set by hunters. And then there were the struggles against other new recruits. If they encountered those with gentler methods, it might be manageable, but if they faced someone more ruthless, they could end up beaten black and blue.
Although the instructor had assured them that no one’s life would be at risk before ascending the mountain, the battles were bound to leave their marks. Despite not facing any life-threatening danger, Wang Xiaohan couldn’t help but feel aggrieved. It was the first time he had been beaten so badly in his life!
Moreover, they had lost all their flags. Wang Xiaohan had already realized that their team was far from being on par with the others. Safety was their main concern now. As for the Vanguard Camp, let whoever wanted to enter it go ahead. To h*ll with the Vanguard Camp, to h*ll with flag capturing!
While he was lost in his thoughts, his foot stepped on some dry twigs. Something hit his forehead; it didn’t hurt much, but it startled him. He looked up and saw a red-clothed youth sitting on an oak tree in front of him, holding an acorn, aiming it at his forehead. Seeing Wang Xiaohan’s gaze, the young man smiled and greeted him, “Hey!”
The young man had delicate features and a lively expression. It should have been a pleasant sight, but Wang Xiaohan felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over him, chilling him to his bones. Trembling, he managed to let out a cry of desperation, “It’s He Yan, run—”
Upon hearing this, his companions scattered in a rush, and Wang Xiaohan turned to run as well. However, the moment he moved, something hit his knee, and before he knew it, his legs went numb, rendering him immobile. The same fate befell his companions.
He Yan leaped down from the tree, still holding the acorn. She had used the acorn to strike their acupoints. Fortunately, Wang Xiaohan’s group was already injured, and the steep downhill path had exhausted them, making it easy for He Yan to subdue them.
Approaching Wang Xiaohan, He Yan didn’t even have a chance to speak before Wang Xiaohan cried out, “We have no flags left, not a single one!”
Wang Ba and the others emerged from the shadows at this moment. They searched the group and then shook their heads at He Yan. “None.”
“Since you don’t have any flags, why did you start running when you saw me?” He Yan curiously asked.
“… I was afraid you’d hit me,” Wang Xiaohan replied, his voice strained.
“Who told you that we hit people?” He Yan found this even more peculiar and looked into his eyes. “Brothers, you guys seem to be quite injured. Has flag capturing on the mountain been this intense?”
They had avoided particularly intense confrontations from start to finish. It wasn’t clear what had happened. Seeing the sorry state of Wang Xiaohan’s group, they were relieved that they hadn’t engaged in direct combat with the other new recruits.
No one wanted to end up with black eyes and bruises all over.
“We… we heard that you’ve been snatching many flags,” Wang Xiaohan hesitated before continuing, “and that your methods are sinister, and you’re cruel…”
Wang Ba grew annoyed, “Who the h*ll is spreading these nonsensical rumors? Can we be this fierce? Who’s tarnishing our reputation?”
Wang Xiaohan didn’t dare to repeat the more exaggerated rumors they’d heard from others, which painted He Yan and his group as a gang of ruthless villains.
“Did you just come down from the mountain?” He Yan asked.
Wang Xiaohan nodded.
“And you have no flags left, but you still decided to descend?”
Wang Xiaohan grumbled, “We couldn’t snatch any anyway. It’s better to go back, take a bath, and rest.”
“Let me ask you this,” He Yan smiled mischievously, “Apart from us, who currently holds the most flags on the mountain?”
“It’s… Lei Hou.”
“Lei Hou?” Huang Xiong furrowed his brow, “Have you heard of this name?”
Jiang Jiao shook his head, “No.”
Both Shitou and Wang Ba also said they hadn’t heard of him. Among the tens of thousands of new recruits in the Liangzhou Guard, outstanding individuals are usually well-known. Since this Lei Hou had managed to capture the flags of many, he must have been highly skilled. However, before this incident, none of them had ever heard his name.
“Is he really formidable?” He Yan asked Wang Xiaohan.
“Very formidable. He has more than a dozen flags in his possession. I believe he has all the flags except the ones you have,” Wang Xiaohan replied.
More than a dozen flags? He Yan raised an eyebrow. It seemed Lei Hou’s success wasn’t merely luck. She inquired, “How does he capture flags? Does he set traps?”
“No, he doesn’t,” Wang Xiaohan answered. “He directly fights anyone he sees with a flag. He defeats his opponents in battle and takes their flags. His companions are similar to us, but this person is incredibly skilled. He alone can take on several opponents.”
He Yan was taken aback. It appeared that Lei Hou was truly exceptional. She asked, “Were you injured by him?”
Wang Xiaohan nodded with a sense of humiliation.
He Yan clicked her tongue and shook her head.
Wang Xiaohan asked, “What’s going on?”
“He hit you, why didn’t you hit him back?” He Yan responded.
“I can’t beat him!” Wang Xiaohan retorted, “If I had your skills, I would have fought him already!”
“That’s not the point; if your skills aren’t up to par, use your brain instead,” He Yan patted his shoulder and released their acupoints. “You’ve provided us with so much information. Don’t worry, I’ll take revenge for you. Brothers,” she turned to Jiang Jiao and the others, “stop standing around, let’s get to work.”
“Are you really going to fight him?” Wang Xiaohan cautiously asked. Having spoken to He Yan for a while, he found that he wasn’t as brutal as the legends made him out to be. Feeling somewhat reassured, he kindly advised, “Since you already have flags, it’s better to descend the mountain. Lei Hou is truly formidable. If you can’t beat him, you might lose all your flags. Going down now, you might still secure second place.”
“Second place?” He Yan shook her head. “If you come in second, you might not make it to the Vanguard Camp. Don’t worry,” He Yan assured, “I don’t care about that monkey*. Once we’re on my turf, they’ll have to behave like worms.”
* monkey = similar pronunciation as lei hou’s hou
Her laughter was wild, and for a moment, Wang Xiaohan was at a loss for words.
…
After a brief exchange with He Yan, Wang Xiaohan and his group decided to descend the mountain on their own. Perhaps fearing that He Yan and Lei Hou’s clash might draw them into the fight, they quickly disappeared from sight.
Jiang Jiao turned to He Yan, saying, “According to him, Lei Hou is quite skilled.”
“Don’t worry,” He Yan responded, “I’m even better.”
Her confidence left everyone uncertain of what to say. He Yan estimated that Lei Hou and his group would likely come down the mountain soon, so she urged everyone to hide quickly to avoid wasting time.
After they had hidden themselves, it was only the span of a tea time before footsteps approached.
The group consisted of five people, with the four others trailing behind, and one person in the lead. The leader, presumably Lei Hou, appeared to be in his early twenties—a young man of tall and lean stature, handsome features, and intense eyes. As he reached the edge of the dense forest, he suddenly stopped, raising a hand to halt his companions, and spoke, “Wait!”
“Big Brother Lei?” one of his companions asked.
“Something’s amiss in the forest ahead; I sense an air of danger. There might be an ambush.”
“An ambush?” The companion found this intriguing. “Who would dare to ambush us?”
With Lei Hou leading the way, they had managed to seize all the flags from the new recruits on the mountain. Other people would steer clear of them, let alone trying to ambush them. When they were descending the mountain, they were exceptionally conspicuous, almost brazenly so, as no one could possibly defeat Lei Hou.
“We only have fourteen flags in our hands,” Lei Hou said. “The remaining six are still unaccounted for.”
“Aren’t the remaining ones with He Yan?”
“That’s right,” Lei Hou looked ahead at the dense forest. “So, most likely, those who set up an ambush here are He Yan.”
The others exchanged glances, and after a pause, someone asked, “What should we do then?”
He Yan was a well-known figure in Liangzhou Garrison. Although Lei Hou was also formidable, it was hard to predict the outcome if the two fought each other.
“Excellent timing,” Lei Hou suddenly chuckled. “He’s right here, which means we can take all his flags right under his nose, leaving him without a single one.”
His confidence was palpable and inspiring, prompting the companions to express their agreement. Lei Hou continued, “You guys deal with the others; leave He Yan to me.”
Unbeknownst to him, He Yan had similar intentions.
Lei Hou advanced a few steps, but the path was narrow, surrounded by thick undergrowth on both sides. He didn’t proceed any further; instead, he shouted ahead, “I’m Lei Hou. Come out, He Yan. I know you’re here.”
A light laughter suddenly emanated from a tree. Lei Hou looked up, and there, half of a young man’s body was leaning against a branch, supporting his head with one hand, as if taking a nap. His gaze held regret as he spoke, “Brother, your perception is truly remarkable. I couldn’t hide from you.”
“You hid quite well,” Lei Hou replied with a smile. “It’s just that your companions had too much murderous intent.”
Helplessly, He Yan thought, what else could she expect? They consisted of a mountain bandit, a greenwood hero, a martial arts school heir, and a local hunter from Shuo Jing. They had all weathered life’s trials and tribulations. How could they possibly remain as calm as monks in a temple?
“Tell your people to come out,” Lei Hou said. “Let’s have a fair flag capturing contest.”
He emphasized the words “fair contest.”
Perhaps having heard about He Yan and their “grand achievements” on the mountain, which involved diving into chaotic waters, Lei Hou wanted to stress the importance of not using deceitful tactics.
“They enjoy playing hide and seek,” He Yan said with a laugh. “Let your people find us on their own.”
Lei Hou’s smile turned cold. He stared at He Yan for a moment, and suddenly, a cold light shot toward He Yan. She sidestepped, narrowly avoiding the cold light as it grazed past her. To her surprise, the cold light returned to Lei Hou’s hand, revealing itself to be a long sword.
This person was proficient with a sword.
“You’re quite eager,” He Yan remarked with a faint smile. She drew the nine-section whip from her waist, the sections clinking together to create a crisp sound. The young man leaped down from the branch. “Alright then, I’ll fight you!”
She charged toward Lei Hou.
Lei Hou met her charge head-on, and his companions behind him also moved to help, but as they began to move, several figures emerged from all directions—one from the grass, one from behind rocks, one from beside trees, and one even emerged from a fox den. These were likely He Yan’s companions. Their sudden appearance caught Lei Hou’s group off guard, and they ended up taking a few hits.
They had been unstoppable since they started ascending the mountain, and this was the first time they had been beaten. The shock was greater than the anger they felt.
Wielding his axe, Wang Ba charged into the crowd. “I’ve been itching for a good fight. Come on, let’s have a brawl!”
He Yan chuckled. “Take it easy, Brother Wang. If it’s over too quickly, we won’t have anything left to fight.”
“You still have the leisure to make jokes?” Lei Hou found it perplexing. Perhaps he was frustrated by He Yan’s lack of focus during their battle. He attacked with full force, aiming his sword directly at He Yan’s chest.
He Yan furrowed her brows slightly as she watched Lei Hou, her expression gradually turning colder.
The purpose of the new recruits ascending the mountain was to capture flags, not to engage in combat. Instructors had repeatedly emphasized that they should avoid causing harm. However, in the brief exchange with Lei Hou just now, He Yan had realized that this man had no such reservations.
No wonder Wang Xiaohan had suffered such a brutal beating, enough to leave him disheartened. Those who had faced Lei Hou on the mountain were probably not faring any better. If it were someone else in He Yan’s place just now, they might have already been injured.
He was showing no mercy at all.
Seeing the change in He Yan’s expression, a trace of contempt flashed in Lei Hou’s eyes. He said, “If you surrender now, I’ll stop.”
“Why would I?” the young man replied with a playful smile. “I still want the flags you’re holding.”
Lei Hou’s expression shifted. Indeed, all the flags were in his possession. First, because he had originally seized these flags himself, and his companions had no objections to him holding them. Second, because no one dared to challenge him for them while they were in his possession.
He hadn’t expected He Yan to see through his strategy so easily.
He let out a cold laugh, and in a swift motion, he aimed his sword at He Yan, attempting to cut open her front clothes and take her flags. He Yan raised her hand, and with a crack, the whip’s tail slapped the blade of Lei Hou’s sword away. He Yan took a step back.
She glanced down at her clothes. Luckily, they weren’t cut open. A sense of displeasure crossed her mind. If this had happened in Shuo Jing, Lei Hou’s action would have been enough to land him in the hands of the authorities. Molesting a respectable young lady on the street was the work of a rogue.
“Brother Lei, your behavior is truly impolite,” she raised an eyebrow. “I’m a bit upset.”
<Previous Chapter<Table of Contents>Next Chapter>
